The Palio in English

We find ourselves in Tuscany, next to sources of Marecchia river. Each year we go back to the Middle Ages and the Abbey of Sant�Angelo Michele de Tedaldi gives life to black monks, torch-light processions, historical retinues and banquets. Living the �Palio dei Castelli della Badia Tedalda� means going back to our remoter past, which is the moment when our deepest historical traditions become true. This reality lives inside each of us, being part of our genetic patrimony.

Between medieval songs, settings and foods, black monks of Saint Benedict, guided by their Abbot, give life to the glorious and ancient Abbey of Sant�Angelo Michele de Tedaldi, involving the enthusiastic participants in a highly evocative path where liturgical torch-light processions and solemn celebrations alternate to high masses and banquets, after which the Palio dei Castelli of Badia Tedalda takes place. This typical equestrian tournement is held by the most able Knights of the Castles of Badia Tedalda with launches and rings, competing for the prestigious Cloth and the Double-Crossed Plate of S.Angelo Michele. The Palio is therefore a magic historical commemoration of the past, where the present County Town and villages no longer exist, but only the past Abbey and its subject Castles; the Abbot, using his privilege of jus sanguinis, authenticates the documents by St. Christopher�s seal and shows off his own standard, with two red crosses on white field, besides he announces an equestrian tournement or entrusts an important work commission.

The long torch-light procession up to the Slope to the Castle, Gregorian chants of Benedictine monks, S.Michele Archangelo Church illuminated with candles like thousand years ago, the ancient inns, foods, libations and musics, within the scenery of the medieval village illuminated by torches, recreate an ancient atmosphere and therefore provoking an apotheosis of unforgettable emotions. This is the Palio dei Castelli: a full immersion in our monastic past life, which takes place every year at Badia Tedalda in the province of Arezzo on the third weekend of August.

Today the Palio dei Castelli is managed by the homonymous Association, constituted under a notorial deed and detailed inner charter in March 1998, finalised to organize and guarantee the yearly development of this event. This Association is mainly composed by young people, lovers of the history, who have succeeded in involving into such event all their pride, engagement and ehtusiasm of the entire local community.

1. The ten knight, each of them representing the ancient castles of Badia Tedalda, are combined to the following colours:

Badia Tedalda	WHITE
Caprile	PURPLE RED
Cicognaia	DEEP BLUE
Fresciano	MOSS GREEN
Montebotolino	BROWN
Pratieghi	RED
Presale	BLACK
Rofelle	YELLOW
S.Paterniano	SKY BLUE
S.Sofia	EMERALD GREEN

1. Each knight is combined to a single horse, unless otherwise provided by the Umpires, and unless all circumstances are againts the prosecution of the tournement for that horse.

2. After the starter has given the departure signal, the Knight can not delay his start for more than a minute, risking a penalty for cancellation of the run.

3. All the run, from departure to arrival, must be covered at full gallop, with risk of penalty for cancellation of the same run.

4. Three Umpires will decide about cancelling or confirming the run, by showing a white flag for the validation or a red one for the cancellation.

1. The score of rings sticked through with the launch from the Knight at full gallop is the following:

1. Once centered, the ring must be given back sticked through the launch to the Umpire. In case the ring falls during the path, the run is not valid.

2. At the end of the three runs, if ending in a draw, the runs will be extended to the bitter end by direct elimination with the small ring.

3. In case the result of the contest is to be decided by means of extended runs to the bitter end, the run which is not considered valid because not entirely coverd at full gallop (art. VI), is not cancelled but it can only be repeated once by the Knight.

4. A double-crossed silver Plate of S.Angelo Michele de� Tedaldi will be awarded to the winner of the Palio as 1st Price; the other Knights will be each awarded with XX silver coins as consolation price; the Mayor of the winning Castle will have the honour and responsability to scrupulously keep the Cloth of Badia Tedalda Castles for the period of one year.